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Washington doesn't regret bullpen moves

Washington doesn't regret bullpen moves

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ARLINGTON -- Rangers manager Ron Washington stood by the decisions he made in regards to his bullpen in Game 3. The most discussed move was taking out Darren O'Day in the eighth inning and going with closer Neftali Feliz.

The score was tied at 2 in the eighth inning. With one out and a runner at first, O'Day struck out B.J. Upton in a righty-vs.-righty matchup. Washington then brought in Feliz to face Jason Bartlett, another right-handed hitter who was hitting ninth but is also 3-for-5 in his career off O'Day.

Feliz walked Bartlett and then gave up an RBI single to John Jaso, a left-handed hitter, that brought home the go-ahead run.

"My thinking was Bartlett has trouble hitting velocity and he hits O'Day good," Washington said. "I was going bring Feliz in anyway on Jaso, so I brought him in a batter early to put velocity on Jaso. If Feliz doesn't walk Bartlett, everything is fine.

"It didn't work, so it opens me up. If that's the case, then that's the case. Bring it on."

The Rangers used seven pitchers in Game 3. They are only the fifth team to use at least seven pitchers in a playoff game that involved the designated hitter. Only one team has ever used eight pitchers. The Rangers did so in 1996 in Game 4 against the Yankees.